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I originally started loom knitting as a way to bring down very high my blood pressure. Did some research seems knitting will relax and bring it down any where from 45 - 25 percent. Knitting calms the soul.

I had done knitting as a teen using regular knitting needles. - as I always seemed to knit very large loops with out trying. (I had no control over tension and yarn.) my projects were very stretchy to say the least and did not look as I had envisioned them to be. So I put my needles aside and went forth to other pursuits.

Now I have arthritis in both hands; they stiffen up and wont unbend when holding needles for an hour. I have to soak my hands in water to unbend them. Yet I can use the knitting looms for hours at a time with no arthritis effects pain free and make very sturdy beautiful projects.

I often take my knitting with us, riding in the car with my husband or on long trips or even to knit during my lunch and brakes at work. I often explain to the curious what loom knitting is. Since Walmart, Joanns, Hobby Lobby and Michaels Craft shops started selling the looms I have noticed an increase in people using them. Especially in needle knitters that found the needles uncomfortable to use either skill wise or mobility wise.

Loom knitting may never become main stream but I hope it does find a place beside our knitting needle sisters as a viable art.

I have started a new project. We have a really old braided rug that i use as a laundry room rug. I have had it for years and it is falling apart. I was given 5 skeins of red multi color yarn from the manufacture red yarn as a gift for Mother’s Day. While I like to use really soft yarns for quilts. This yarn while vibrantly beautiful is coarse yet strong. Perfect for a sturdy rug.

Using the blue knifty knitter knitting board which is their largest loom; I am knitting a pattern that uses a 4 time wrap around the pegs in an effort to make it more tough, durable and thick. The pattern is knit up 2 skeins then using spare white yarn do 6 rows to create a stripe. Continue knitting with one skein of multi red then do 6 rows of white and finish it with the last 2 skeins of red multi yarn.

As most people have their washer and dryer side by side in their homes, This rug will cover that space completely with no leftover yarn multi- red yarn as all will be used.

My situation is I have never backed a rug - I have been in craft stores and seen the products to do so. As a newbie; I just wanted to ask for any tip or suggestions on how to as I don’t want to ruin my red laundry rug. Any advice would be helpful.

I love to knit, but I use looms to knit as it doesn’t affect my arthritis in my hands versus knitting with needles - I made a beautiful poncho using the blue knifty knitter rake loom; out of 2 long panels of multi blue shades using Joan’s brushed yarn for Emily’s 8th Birthday - they cross around the shoulders and are attached by 3 buttons on the front and back and can be adjusted to fit her as she grows simply by inserting the buttons into the fabric with ease ( no need for button holes as the flexibility of the weave makes it own hole and will hold the big buttons.) I also completed a four (section) panel quilt for Joseph for his 18 th birthday - It used alternating colors of white and a cranberry multicolor yarn (a skein of each at a time) from the I Love This Yarn collection at Hobby Lobby craft store or craftsect.com. It fit his twin bed with room to spare using the yellow knifty kniter rake loom. Emily’s poncho took 2 1/2 weeks to finish and Joseph’s Birthday quilt took a month. Most of this time was spent in front of the tv and knitting at the same time.

I am currently working on a two panel baby blanket that can be folded in half and be put in the car seat so the baby is not cold when he/she is put in it. I have noticed most cars eats are made of plastic that is cold to the touch. This would be a blanket that you can fold up  under the baby and make one side into a little pillow that would cushion the babys head when he / she drifts asleep. I am making one blanket in white and another in blue for 2 different ladies that will be giving birth shortly.